Chloe Qisha

Chloe Qisha is a Malaysian-born British singer-songwriter whose dreamy pop and introspective lyrics have earned her a spot on the BBC Sound of 2026 shortlist. Her music, a blend of bedroom pop and alt-R&B, has drawn comparisons to Clairo and Faye Webster. With her debut EP If I Had a Name (2024) and the single "Lucky Girl" (2025), she has amassed over 15 million streams on Spotify. She is currently recording her debut album with producer Ethan Gruska, expected in late 2026. Her visual aesthetic, marked by pastel tones and diary-style handwritten lyrics, has become a signature.[edit]

Chloe Qisha was born Chloe Qi Sha Lim in Malaysia to a Chinese-Malaysian mother and a British father. She grew up in Johor Bahru and attended an international school there. At age 14, she began writing songs as a way to process her emotions, teaching herself guitar through YouTube tutorials and posting covers on SoundCloud. After high school, she moved to London to study Music Business and Management at the University of Westminster, graduating in 2021. During university, she worked part-time at a record store and performed at open mic nights. In 2022, she uploaded a demo of "Silly Little Girl" to SoundCloud; it was picked up by a BBC Radio 1 producer and played on air, leading to her first record deal.[edit]

After the BBC Radio 1 airplay of "Silly Little Girl" in 2022, Chloe Qisha released the singles "I Don't Know You" and "Sink or Swim" in 2023, which landed on Spotify playlists like Fresh Finds. Her debut EP If I Had a Name dropped on 12 April 2024, with the lead single surpassing 15 million streams. She opened for beabadoobee on a UK tour leg in November 2024 and played at Latitude Festival. In January 2025, she released "Lucky Girl," and in December 2025 the BBC named her to the Sound of 2026 longlist, later confirming her as a shortlist finalist in January 2026. She has since signed with Dirty Hit Records for global distribution.[edit]

Chloe Qisha's visual aesthetic is soft, pastel-toned, and nostalgic, often featuring grainy 16mm film filters, vintage clothing, and diary-style handwritten lyrics. Critics describe her as introspective and authentic, praising her bittersweet songwriting and ethereal vocals. On social media, she shares candid, diary-like posts, including snippets of unreleased songs, book recommendations, and mental health reflections. Her fans, informally called "Qishlings," connect with her vulnerability and relatable lyrics. She is seen as a rising voice in dream pop and alt-R&B.[edit]

Chloe Qisha's rise has been swift and steady, with a devoted following that grows with each release. Her fans, who connect deeply with her vulnerable songwriting and candid social media presence, have formed a tight-knit community online, though they haven't adopted a formal name yet. They rally around her music, sharing her tracks and celebrating her milestones, from her BBC Sound of 2026 shortlist to her debut EP and the announcement of her upcoming mixtape, Fantasize. Her first headline tours across the UK, Europe, and North America have sold out, and her live shows are intimate, emotional affairs that leave audiences feeling like they've witnessed something special.

On the global stage, iFANN's Global Fame Engine has evaluated Chloe Qisha but she does not currently hold a placement in the published rankings, including the Global Top 1,000 or any Top-100 scope list. As her career continues to ascend, her fame trajectory is one to watch, with industry observers predicting she'll soon be a household name.[edit]

Chloe Qisha is a trained pastry chef and briefly considered opening a bakery before committing to music. Her stage name "Qisha" is a stylization of her middle name; "Chloe" was her mother's favorite name. She is fluent in Mandarin and English, often incorporating Mandarin phrases into her lyrics. She has a small star tattoo on her left wrist, gotten at age 18 as a symbol of chasing dreams. Her favorite book is The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath, which inspired the title of her EP If I Had a Name.

In just over two years, she's already had her breakthrough moment with "21st Century Cool Girl," a track that BBC identified as her big break. Her song "So Sad So Hot" was named Record of the Year by Record of the Day in December 2025, a critical accolade that cemented her status as one to watch. And when she stepped into "princess mode" with her single "YDH" in February 2026, it marked a notable artistic pivot that had fans buzzing. As she gears up for her mixtape Fantasize, these moments are becoming the early legends of her career.[edit]

Chloe Qisha's mother is a former accountant and her father works in engineering. She has one younger brother. She grew up in a multicultural household in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. As of 2026, she is not married and has no children. She lives in London and has not publicly mentioned any pets.[edit]

Chloe Qisha has collaborated with producer Ethan Gruska (Phoebe Bridgers, Fiona Apple) on her debut album. Music video director Olivia Rose has worked with her on multiple visuals. She opened for beabadoobee on a UK tour leg in 2024.[edit]

Chloe Qisha dated music producer Liam O'Donnell from 2022 to 2023; they met at university and collaborated on early demos. The relationship ended amicably, and she has said the song "Silly Little Girl" was written about their breakup. In 2024, she briefly dated photographer Marcus Chen, whom she met on a shoot for her EP artwork. The relationship was short-lived and private. As of 2026, she is single and has stated she is focused entirely on her album.[edit]

As of 2026, iFANN currently estimates Chloe Qisha's net worth at $500,000. Her primary income sources include streaming royalties from Spotify and Apple Music, earning an estimated $20,000 to $40,000 annually from over 20 million streams. Live performance fees from opening slots and festival appearances have contributed $5,000 to $15,000 per show. She received an advance from Dirty Hit Records, estimated between $100,000 and $200,000. She has no known major endorsements, real estate holdings, or business ventures as of 2026. Her net worth is expected to rise significantly with the release of her debut album.[edit]

Chloe Qisha was named to the BBC Sound of 2026 shortlist in January 2026, a prestigious recognition of emerging music talent. As of early 2026, she has not won any other major awards, though her career is in its early stages.[edit]